Monthly #137 - Metal Competition

Metal can be quite tricky to photograph, because of the reflections, but you wouldn't know it from the fine examples in this month's competition. Unfortunately a few images have had to be removed, as they were not shot in November 2023. It's a shame because they were rather good! Do please remember that the monthly competition is for new images, shot in the month of the competition.

Metal Bike Stand by sueriley – I know exactly where this is, and have always decided against shooting it because I thought it wouldn't show up well, but Sue has proved me wrong. She has managed to make a shot out of very little in the way of subject matter and it's successful.

The Sentinel by takuman – What a strange find, and well photographed too. It's very dark and mysterious and manages to convey mood. Well done,

A Brass Padlock by MHOL19246 – I like the textures in the padlock, which comes off very well. The lighter areas to the left catch the eye a bit as they are lighter than the rest of the image and perhaps confuse it a bit?

Chainsaw Sailfish by drofmit – Odd, very odd, but odd is good and it certainly looks interesting. It's a pity the light wasn't a bit more exciting, but perhaps on another day...
L' arrosoir - the watering can by Francisbd – This lonely watering can appears to be hanging on a chain, which does add a bit of a question mark to its existence. Whatever the reason, the image shows it all very efficiently.

Strike while the steel is hot by Nigelk – This image has so much going for it. The action catches our attention and the moving hammer is just identifiable enough. The human interest is there, and the fire in the background fills out the composition nicely. I was expecting it to be strike while the iron is hot as I wasn't aware this was done to steel, but I'm no metalwork expert so I bow to anyone's greater knowledge.

Getting down to brass tacks by Yorkie – A simple idea and one that works. I wonder if it would suit very low cross lighting, so the tacks threw long shadows. I have seen that done using matsticks and it can be very effective.

Da Drill by noelcmn – yes indeedy, and nicely shot in monochrome as well. The detail and texture is excellent.

Fountain Pen Nib by PRYorkshire – Oh yes, whjat a beautiful gold nib and the Waterman's name is as sharp as a tack. I wish the rest of the nib, especially the point, was also in sharp focus, but as it stands it is still a very fine shot that grabs the attention.

A Skipful of Swarf by davidwozhere – A great pattern/texture image, such a simple idea and yet fascinating.

Nerves of Steele by stephen-s – I like the play on words here and also the image works very well. Great observation and a cute title clinches it.

Many thanks for all those fine entries, plus apologies to those whose out of time images had to be removed, and the winners are:

FIRST PLACE – Strike while the steel is hot by Nigelk
SECOND PLACE – A Skipful of Swarf by davidwozhere
THIRD PLACE – Nerves of Steele by stephen-s

Highly commended: PRYorkshire and sueriley

Well done all, and we can now steel ourselves for the new competition from Nikelk!

You're on the ball John! Thank you for the competition and well considered judging. These days almost all forging is done in mild steel, wrought iron is produced in very small quantities and is therefore very expensive so usually reserved for specialist restoration works.
Congratulations to my fellow podium places and them two that gained highly commended. Decembers comp is up and waiting for the entries!
Cheers
Nigel

Thanks for the positive feedback and the 3rd place. Congratulations to David and Nigelk, there were some good shots this month...

Thankyou for the Highly Commended John and well done to Nigel, a worthy winner and also to David and Stephen for their 2nd and 3rd places. I see what you mean with the softness of focus of the pen nib, result of the shallow depth of field from using the Helicoid. In retrospect I should have used focus stacking.

Thank you for provoking a great range of entries John and for the 2nd place. And congratulations to Nigel for a very well deserved 1st and to Stephen for the 3rd (dunno how they can drive like that!).

I think the purpose of the chain in Francis' watering can is to direct any rain runoff from above into it, to keep it filled (?)

Thank you for the fun competition, John.... and congratulations to Nigel.... and the other podia places....
when I saw that appear I was pretty certain it would win! I like the way you got those globs of hot steel flying away!!
Love David's second place Swarf abstract, too... and you are right David about the chain in Francisbd's picture.... it leads from the gutter above....
It is supposed to be quieter than the standard zinc downpipe.
And that third place on the podium takes me back... Roger "take it sideways" Clark.... my thenfatherinlaw was a competition rally driver.
Yes, John, the lighting is rather grim.... but that is almost all we've had this last month here.... I have a far more interesting, partially sunlit version of the fish which has a starburst coming from the eye... and much more relief in the texture of metal, leaves, stone, etc... but it was taken in July two years back!